2 o'clock pictures,” Pare continued. “Are you coming too?” “No. I'm too tired. I'm going to have a little moe. But you'll be okay.” Kararaina was silent. It wasn't much fun going to the pictures by herself. She'd been once before, but she only felt lonelier sitting in the middle of all those other kids who seemed to know each other. She'd had an ice cream at halftime, and a bag of minties too, but she'd still been lonely, and had wished that Rangi had been with her. “Grab the other end of the basket,” Pare said. “Jingosh! It's heavy, ay! That blinking Henare, he sure dirties his clothes quick!” Kararaina giggled, and Pare thought to herself: Poor kid! She tries to be happy, but she can't hide it … Together, they carried the washing down the stairs from their top storey flat and round the back where the wash-line was. Kararaina enjoyed doing things with her married sister. Back at home in Te Karaka, before Pare had got married. Kararaina often used to climb in bed with her because Pare was so warm. And Pare used to tell her all about her boyfriends. Then Henare had come along and Pare used to chuck off at him and tell everybody that he was her greatest mistake. Kararaina had looked forward to staying in Wellington with her sister, but they'd had very few moments together. Pare worked now, at Denhard's Bakery. At seven each morning, she would wake Kararaina up and tell her to get ready for school. Henare would already have gone; he worked for the City Council, so the two sisters would have a quick breakfast together. Pare started work at eight, so Kararaina had to leave the flat when Pare left to catch her bus. Sometimes, Kararaina would wait at the bus stop too. She always felt lonely when Pare had kissed her goodbye, as school didn't start till 9 o'clock and that meant she was by herself for a whole hour. She didn't have any friends. On the first mornings, Kararaina used to stay at the bust stop, perched high on a brick wall, watching the people passing by. Every time she saw somebody coming, she would beam a brilliant smile and say— “Hullo, mister man!” or “Hullo, lady!” — depending on who the people were. But the people she greeted mostly ignored her. Few ever smiled in return. One of them had growled her for being cheeky. Now, she hardly ever sat on the brick wall. Lately, during the long morning hour, Kararaina had taken to wandering along the road looking at the shops. If Pare had given her some money, she would buy a packet of chewing gum and chew it very slowly so that it would last all the way to school. If it didn't last, she'd eat one of her lunch sandwiches. But she didn't like doing that — one sandwich less made the lunchtime longer. Then, after school, she'd dawdle on her way home knowing that the door would be locked. Henare wouldn't be home, and Pare didn't get home till after five. And they'd come home to find Kararaina waiting for them on the doorstep. She'd be happy then, but they'd be too tired to be happy with her. But Kararaina didn't mind: as long as they were just there, she was content. “All finished now,” Pare sighed. She turned the wash basked upside down and sat on it. “Light me a smoke, Kara,” she said. She put a cigarette in her mouth and gave the matches to her little sister. Kararaina lit one and put it up to the cigarette. Pare closed her eyes and drew on it. “Aaaah!” she said, and the smoke sighed too as she breathed out. “What you going to do now?” Kararaina asked. “Just sit on my bum for a while and take it easy,” Pare answered. “Are you tired?” Kararaina asked. “Shall I make us a cup of tea?” Pare shook her head. Then she looked at her little sister, so eager, so happy and yet so lonely. And she remembered how she'd heard Kararaina crying softly in her bedroom. “Kara!” she'd called. “Are you all right?” “Yes …” “You're not crying are you?” “No …” “Stop telling lies! Are you scared of the